Modi, Starmer tout ‘new energy’ as India-UK trade pact advances

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said their partnership has gained fresh momentum following a trade deal signed in London in July. Meeting in Mumbai during Starmer’s first visit to India as premier, the leaders highlighted new investment prospects and promised job creation in both countries.

The agreement will lower tariffs on British exports such as cosmetics and medical devices while the UK reduces duties on clothing, footwear and food products, including frozen prawns from India. Modi framed the package as a cost-cutting measure for consumers that would also boost manufacturing and employment.

Starmer, leading a 125-member delegation, said he expected to secure major investment commitments before returning to London, arguing the pact could unlock thousands of high-skill jobs. He praised India’s growth trajectory and said Britain wanted to be a long-term partner as New Delhi aims to become the world’s third-largest economy.

Officials also announced steps to deepen defense cooperation and expand education ties, including support for nine British universities establishing campuses in India. Both sides cited roughly $55 billion in annual trade and investment supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across their economies.

The leaders framed implementation—tariff rollouts, regulatory cooperation and follow-through on promised projects—as crucial to converting political goodwill into tangible gains. They presented the relationship as a key pillar of growth and stability at a time of shifting global supply chains.